Chances for Princeton SCEA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

Hi, I am a high school senior who is applying to Princeton for early action admission. Here are my stats:

Hispanic male, family income is around 65k a year
Legacy (Grandfather got his BA at Princeton)
Prospective major: Chemistry
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 5.6/6.0 weighted
Class Rank: 16/391 (weighted)
SAT - 1550 (790 M 760 R&W)
SAT Essay 7/6/7
AP Tests (all fives): World History, Chemistry, Calculus AB, English 11, Physics 1, Physics C: Mechanics, US History
Not sure where else to put this, but I am currently enrolled in a level 300 Inorganic Chemistry class at a local state university.

ECs:
Vice-President, Student Government Association, 2018
Captain, Science Bowl, 2017-2018
Marching Band, 2016-2018
Varsity Indoor Track and Field, 2016-2018
Varsity Lacrosse, 2017-2018
Captain, JV Lacrosse, 2016

Academic groups/activities:
Seven-week Chinese Cultural Immersion Program, 2017
National Honor Society, 2017-2018
National Mathematics Honor Society, 2018
President, National Science Honor Society, 2018
President, National Chinese Honor Society, 2017-2018
President, Chinese Club, 2016-2017

Honors:
National Finalist, United States National Chemistry Olympiad, 2018
Top Student/Certificate of Excellence, University of Virginia STARTALK Program, 2016
Top Student Award, Office of the Sciences, 2018
Top Student Award, Office of World Languages, 2017
Semi-Finalist, Maryland State Science Bowl, 2018
Presenter at ACS Mid-East regional Chemical conference, 2018
Team Spirit Award, Varsity Lacrosse, 2018

I attend a highly ranked public school in Maryland, and am also currently an independent researcher at a local university in a chemistry lab group. I will be published by the time my application is being read in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will have presented my research at an American Chemical Society regional meeting.

Recommendations:
Counselor: Pretty good, she’s new this year but knows me better than many students due to communication over the summer.
Chemistry teacher: Honestly hit-or-miss on this one, we have a love-hate relationship where he encourages my learning and likes my company but can sometimes get annoyed by my energy.
English teacher: Very good, we have a great friendship and I thoroughly enjoyed his class. He promised that he would give me a great recommendation.
Chemistry professor/research mentor: This is going to be very good, she believes very firmly in my ability and says she will do her best to help me get into Princeton/other selective schools. She has been my research mentor and I’m currently enrolled in her inorganic chemistry class.

What do you think? Do I have a shot?

2

Forgot to mention - I also have an 800 and 790 on the SAT subject tests for Chemistry and Physics respectively.

3

Yes, you have a shot! Have your back up plan in place since there are no guarantees but you look to be a very competitive applicant.

4

You appear to be a strong applicant.

5

Make a strong case in your essays - show your unique self that can’t be communicated through this list of activities. Do that and I can’t find a reason why Princeton wouldn’t admit you, though at universities this selective anything can happen. Best of luck!

6

Unfortunately I was deferred, but fingers crossed for the regular decision round! Thanks for everyone who helped and if this thread doesn’t get closed I’ll update when RD comes out :).

7

Ended up being accepted ED II to UChicago, so I guess I’ll never find out what happens with Princeton. Thanks for everyone’s advice!